Hydrocarbon burner



y 26, 1931- R. L. MERIDITH nmaocnsou BURNER Filed July 6 19 Mum y WZ w M M Y a R8 A TTORIVE) Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED S ATES RUSSELL L. MERID'ITH, or EAST CLEVELAND, onro HYDROCARBON BURNER Application filed July 6, 1325. Serial No. 41,622.

My present invention relates to .hydrocarbon burners, and totthat type in which whirling air streams are made to mix with the gasified fuel in an inner chamber prior to combustion. It is an object of my invention to provide air inlets directed upward from openings at the base of the burner into a central mixing chamber, and feed the liquid fuel into the chamber from above while 1 in a'preheatedand gasified condition.

Another object ofmy invention is to provide a hollow conical fuel container having a plurality of helical grooves on its external surface for enlarging the eflective surface forpresenting the fuel to the flames resulting from the combustion of the oil or gaseous mixtures.

Another object of invention is to provide means above the said conical container for feeding into the mixing chamber through the roof thereof a gaseous mixture of oil and steam and at the same time feed to the cham-' her from below a. plurality of whirling air streams. 2 A still further object of my present in vention is the provision of parallel pipes leading to my combustion chamber, one from a water tank and the other from a supply tank of fuel oil, and a further object is the provision of a crossconnection between the pipes outside the burner chamber together with suitable valves therefor whereby either pipe may be cut off from the combustion chamber without interrupting the connection with the other,i to force a. cleaning out of sediments or carbon deposits from the fuel supply line,

NVith, these and other objects in View, my invention consists in' tlie construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my burner together with connections to supply tanks, certain portions of the illustration being omitted and a short section of a wallof a furnace in which the burner is to 'be' mounted being shown in diagram;

Figure. 2. is a vertical section of thebase 59 and manifold of the burner;

tion is effected.

FigureB is a plan view of the manifold; Figure 4 is a plan view of the base of the burner with the manifold removed; 1

Figure 5 is a vertical, central section of the preheating mechanism and the manifold wall to which it is fixed and Figure 6 is a central, vertical section of the conicalportion of the top of the burner. f Referringto the drawings,the bhrnerconsists of a substantially cylindrical base A having an irregular-shaped top or cover portion integral with the cylindrical wall and comprising a raised (one 23 in its center with a small socket 42 at its tip whose rim is broken by two oppositely positioned notches'or openings 43 which'lead to helical grooves winding downward about the external surface of the cone. The socket 42 serves as a well to receive therein the low:

gravity oil for which my improved burner is well adapted, from the feed tube 10 entering directly above the well through thereof of the manifold B. The grooves 29 and 49 serve the purpose of affording anincreased surface for the fuel-holding element while ccmbus- As a whole, the'upper or outer surface of the base is concave to diret the fuel toward the center rather than toward I the edges of the top while burning. 1 There are however, three spaced openings 28in the said top near the periphery of the same, each provided with an oval, raised rim andan inturned flange 27 a little below the edge of the rin'r to receive thereon circular and tubular arms3O of the manifold, the oval rims and flanges serving. to provide for possible expansion a'nd contraction of the manifold due to changes in temperature the parts under the intense heat to which they are subjected. The circular ends of the tubular arms 30, when they are seatedon' the flanges 27, leave a small space. 32 between them and the rims, asindicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

About the'cone 23, therefore, thereis provided an annular depression 44 which receives the overflow from-the grooves'29 and 49 of the cone. Near the periphery of the top and between two of the arms 3O is provided an O ng the tap fv'ih s it Op nin being reinforced by a downwardly-directed tubular and internally-threaded flange member 25 into which a pipe 24 is threaded, as shown in Fig. 2. This pipe 24 leads to a receptacle 31 which is suspended from a valve structure 37, so that overflow of the liquid fuel through the pipe 24 will, should the fire about the cone for any reason cease to burn, so increase the weight of the part 31 and thereby exert so great a downward-pull on an actuating part of the valve 3-7, that the latter will be automatically closed. The details of the exact valve structure 37 are not dwelt upon in this description because they arenota part of my present invention, but areunderstood to be nolonger novel, it being only stated that when combustion ceases at the burner, the unburned fuel will, by flowing into the pipe 24, actto close a valve and cut off the supply to the burner. V

, On a radial line between the opening at and the center of the cone, I have provided a raised portion of metal or shield'26 which is tap ered downwardly toward the cone center and serves as a protector for the over,- flow outlet, directing the flame upward at this point and preventing it from otherwise being. directed against theopening and in n time causing thecasting to crack. It is to be understood that the heat about the cone in my burner is so intense'that I have provided a number of expedients to avoid great damage, of which this shield 26 is one and the arrangement of the oval rims of the openings 28 receiving circular tubularparts 30, is another. Still further devices and arrangements are provided which will be explained in their turn.

y whole the three arms 30, and a central chamber 45v where the gases are mixed with each other and with the incoming air from the openings 28. It is to be especially noted that the armsarenot directed inwardly on lines that are strictly radial; instead, their inner ends are connected to.the chamber 45 at points somewhat lateral of the center. thereof, so that the axes of the tubular arms 30 are almost tangential of the periphery of the circular chamber 45, though not quite, rather intermediatea direction that would intersect thechamber and one that would be on a tangent'thereto. This is shown in Fig. 3. The result of this non-radial arrangement of the arms 30 is a whirling motion of the air and other gases in the chamber 45 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. The position of thecone 23 centrally of the top of the base A and directly beneath the chamber 45, aswell as the annular depression 44 about the said cone, further makes, effective this whirling motion and aids in effecting a very completemixing of the gases in the chamber. On' the inside of the manifold B and di rectly 'overIthe top of the cone 2,3 is a fire olay improved manifold B comprisesas a disk 19 circular in outline and frusto-conical in surface form, and secured to the roof of the manifold by the following means. It being understood that it is not practicable to use most metals for the purpose of protecting the inlet 10 of the fuel feed mechanism from the'intense heat resulting at this point, I provide a flat metal plate centrally apertured to receive the pipe 10 therein and secure the same to the wall-of the manifold by suitable bolts 22. One or more hook shaped fasteners 33 are secured to the said metal plate with the hook ends suspended therefrom, and the fire clay disk is molded about the hookswith the latter embedded therein. The disk has a central aperture for receiving the pipe 10 therein and has also an annular cavity 35e'xtending about said aperture beneath the lower end of the pipe 10, and directed downward into the lower opening 20 at the tip of the disk whereby the cavity 35 serves to receive the upwardly directed currents of air and the flames of burning gases that are just beginning to fall from the pipe 10. This disk with its peculiar structure including the. annular cavity and conical outline serves further as a protector for the in let of the pipe 10 and further, preheatsthe oil as it passes down or gasifies at its lower portion.

19, either in. a liquid or gaseous state, is deemed of great importance and should be carefully considered indetermining the value of my burner; A-high-gravity oil may be gasified by the time it reaches thepoint 20,

while a lowgravityv oil, for which my burner.

39 of a furnace 40 of which a section only of a portion of the wall is shown. This affords merely a diagrammatic representation of the manner in whichI propose to mount my improved burner in the fire pit of-a furnace originally designed to burn other fuel. The ordinary furnace for coal, wood or gas may therefore receive my burner. without changing the hot-airflues or the water, steam or vapor pipes leading to rooms above; or the smoke flues, for whatever has been found suitable to carry off'combustion products of other fuels, is found serviceable for the purpose when my burner'is used. v

VI will now describe the connectionswith supply soutqfifi for fuel intake. AT 11 is This preheating .of the :oil as it enters the lower end or tip of the conical d sk mounted outside the dome of the manifold adjacent the inlet pipe 10 and connected with the latter by an elbow 41 having an annular flange 36 hearing on the wall about the aperture into which 10 leads. Into this T are led two pipes 12 and 13, the latter receiving an oil supply from a tank 15, and pipe 12 connected to a water tank 14. At the manifold aperture, the pipe 13 isdirected downward slightly from a higher level through a bend 21' into-the end opening of the'T 11. The water pipe 12 on the contrary is led up over the oil pipe and is connected into the upper opening of the T by anelbow, as shown in Fig. -1.'

The tanks may be mounted at some point convenient for refilling, and usually at a higher elevation than the burner. Between the tanks and the manifold, the two pipes are connected by a branch pipe 17 having a valve 18 therein for a purpose presently to be explained. A valve 48' is provided in the fuel pipe 13, and beyond it a strainer device 38 serves to keep the oil clear.

Inthe water or steam pipe 12 is provided a needle valve 34 which has rather usual adjustment means for controlling the needle whereby the dropper 16 is regulated. The amount of water'permitted to flow through the pipe12 from the tank 14 to the T 11 is very slight, the amount determined advisable as theresult ofaccurate tests being a few drops per hour when the burner s constantly in use, and this; dropper 16 is designed to make this delicate adjustment by the control 7 34 to permit just the amount desired. r I

From the point of connection between th two pipes 12 and 13 toward the T 11, the pipe 12 is provided with a cut-off valve 46. From the point 46 upward over the dome of the manifold, both pipes 12 and 13 are heated to a high temperature bythe flames and burning gases in the chamber 45 and around and about the arms 30. This fact should be kept in-mind to appreciate the operation of my burner. By the time, therefore, that the oil reaches the T 11 it is already preheated al most to thep-oint of vaporization and here the water from 12, now changed by the same cause into steam. enters 11 and is prepared to mix intoan oil product to be vaporized as soon as high enough temperature is enc-ountered to effect the change. Eventually the mixture of oil gases and steam is attained. For this reason the goose neck 21 is provided in the oil pipe, to prevent thehot water from 12 flowing back through 13 and'down the latter. Ordinarily, the small amount of water permitted to pass 16, does not generate sufficient steam while passing over the -dome to cause any difficulty with the feed through'parts 11 and 41, but should for any reason a quantity of Water in somewhat larger amounts than can be readily. vapor-' into the oil pipe line 13 and. over the dome' and thence into the-T11, elbow 41 and tube 10. This operation willbe explained later.

Vhen a high-gravity .oil is burned, vaporization takes place at about the point 11 and the incoming steam from 12 mixes withthe fuel .gases and together pass into the tube 10.

"When low-gravity oil is used, however, only a part of the oil will vaporize that soon, and the remainder flows down through 10, the intense heat in the cavity 35 serving to further preheat it and further vaporize it until it reaches the opening in the disc 19 from where the remaining liquid drops directly downward into the well 42, as before ex lained. v i

peration: In use, my improved burner mechanism is installed within a furnace, the base A being supported on the grate 39 of the fire pot directly over the ash pit, this arrangement of the parts permitting ready entrance of air through the usual draft openings of the furnace and thence into the openings 28 and the arms or tubes 30. WVith the valve 18 closed, and the valves 37 and48 open, it is usually advisable to close 34temporarily, the oil flowing up through and into the tube 10 fromwhich it drips down into: the well 42 and thence flows down the grooves 29 and 49 until it accumulates in the annular depression 44 of the cover part. The burner is now ready to be lighted. A match or burning waste may be thrown into the annular groove 44 to ignite the oil accumulated there, after Whichthe parts above quickly become heated sufficiently to preheat the inflowing fuel. lVhen the pipes 12 and 13 have become hot, the water dropper 16 may be opened by adjusting the control 34 until the dropper 16 shows the'proper flow of the water therethrough and the water over the dome will be vaporized as before explained. If the fire should go out for any reason, the oil will accumulate in the annular groove ordepression 44 until finally the surplus will flow down through the opening into the pipe 24 which will carry it to the receptacle 31 which by the increased, weight thereof willactuate the cut-off valve 37 to close the latter and shut off the fuel supply until the fuel is removed from 31 and the receptacle lightened.

In all burners'for oil fuel, as well as for other fuel, the accumulation of various car-, bon' deposits in the vicinity of they nozzleiof the feed pipe is apt to cause annoyance if notremoved at intervals. .My' improved burner is provided with ready means of ef-- fecting the removal of these deposits, when they accumulate. I have so arranged the connections of the pipes 12 and 13 with the dome and with each other, that armere change in the connections which may be readily effected, will break up and remove these deposits. About once in a month, or oftener if it is desired the following operation should Y be effected. When the burner and adjacent parts are heated to a high temperature, the oil-control valve l8 should be closed, after which the valve 46 should then be closed. If now, the valve 18 be opened, the oil pipe 18 above the dome will be filled with water and steam thereby softening and cleaning out any carbon deposited in the oil pipe. Then this has been accomplished, the connections may be changed to the former and original arrangement. This expedient has been found very effective.

Special attention should be directed to the fact that the material, fire-clay, of which the disk 19 is formed, is capable of absorbing far more heatunits than ordinary metals and therefore retains its heat after the burner is no longer active, far longer than the metal of the pipe or'the plate towhich hook 83 is attached. After the burner is wholly shut .n off from fuel supply, the disk 19, because of its material substance, will retain quite a remarkable glow which is especially serviceable in breaking up carbon deposits. If made of iron, for example, it would quickly cool..

. This disk 19'of fire-clay and providedwith the cavity is pre-eminently fitted for pre-' heating the gas or liquid which may enter the manifold through 10. Ordinarily, the flames will not enter 20, 35 or lO, but will I encompass the disk and play about the opening 20, in the chamber and to some extent about the cone 23.

I therefore claim as an especial advantage of my improved construction that the incoming whirling air currents together'with the proper amounts almost eliminating such deposits, and at the same time, the relation between the pipes above described permitting ready removal of such deposits, if they do form.

Having declared the nature ofmy construction, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. A burner of the class described including a hollow body having a cover provided with a central, conical oil-receiving surface and a plurality of apertures thereabout, a detachable composite dome having downwardly-directed pipes for fitting the apertures in said cover, and a central aperture therein, a feed pipe inserted in said dome aperture, and a pressed fire-clay inverted cone on the inner surface of said dome andhaving a central opening therethrough adapted to receive the said feed pipe, and means for securing said inverted cone in position with its opening in registry with the aperture in the dome. v

2. A manifold for hydro-carbon burners comprising a plurality of tubular armsconnected together at their inner ends to form a central chamber, there being a central aperture in' said manifold above said chamber, a supply pipe leading from a source of fuel supply up over said manifold and having a curved portion adjacent its end directed downward from a. higher level and into said aperture, a supply pipe leading from a source of water supply up over saidmanifold and above said fuel supply pipe and having its end connected with said fuel supplypipe ust before entering the aperture, a branch pipe connecting the two supply pipes remote from said aperture, a valve in said branch pipe, and cut-out valves in each supply pipe both between the branch and the aperture and between the branch and said sources of supply. I r

3. A burner of the class described including a hollow body having a cover provided with a central, conical oil-receiving surface and a plurality of apertures: thereabout, a detachable composite dome having downwardly-directed pipes for fitting the apertures in said cover, and a central aperture therein, a feed pipe inserted in said dome aperture, and a pressed fire-clay inverted cone on the inner faceof. the dome in axial alinement with the cone with which the cover is provided and having a central opening there-- through adapted to receive the said feed pipe, and an annular. cavity frusto-conical in shape extending about said opening and communicating therewith, and means for securing said inverted cone in position with its base in contact with the wall of the dome and its opening in registry with the aperture in the dome.

4. A burner of the class described including a plate provided with a conical oil-receiving surface and spaced apertures thereabout, a dome having downwardly-directed pipes for fitting the plate apertures, a feed pipe inserted through the roof of said dome, and a pressed fire-clay inverted cone on the inner face of the dome in axial alinement with the cone of the plate and having a central opening therethrough for receiving said feed o pipe, and an annular cavity frusto-conical 1n shape and extendmg in inverted position about the said opening and communicating therewith, and means for securing said inverted solid cone with its base in contact with the Wall of the dome and its opening in registry with the aperture in the dome.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

RUSSELL LL MERIDITH. 

